Chapter 29

Rafe almost bounces into my room with a sheaf of papers in his hand.

“This is it. I signed. I can now officially start your aunt’s biography.” He lets out a whoop and falls back on the bed.

He turns his head to look at me. “I’m going to grab some of her diaries and make a start.”

“Now?” I ask, crawling over to him.

“It’s going to take me a long time to translate them from Spanish.” He stops, wrinkling his nose a little and frowning slightly. “Sorry. Did you have other plans?”

“I always have other plans,” I say, looking down into his golden eyes, watching his frown turn into a smile.

He reaches for me, letting the papers tumble to the ground as our lips meet. It’s a short and sweet kiss and I pull away, wanting to gaze at him some more.

I trail my fingers down his cheek, across his jaw, and down his throat, watching him swallow expectantly, waiting for me to make a move. It would be too easy to start something I can’t stop, and I remember the rules we made, the ones I wanted. So instead, I smirk.

“I’ll come and help you with the diaries for another kiss.”

He agrees, and this time, I start where my fingers are at the hollow of the base of his neck. No one said it had to be a quick kiss. I take my time working my way back up his throat, murmuring along his jaw before finally finding his mouth, revelling in how needy he is as he kisses me back, how he responds to me keeping him waiting. I part us, just for a second to whisper “muy bien” against his lips, hearing him moan as I kiss him again. I need to stop now, or I won’t be able to, and I did promise. Reluctantly, I stop and disentangle myself from his arms. What I want to do to him can wait. For now.

He sits up and wipes a hand across his lips.

“I never knew kissing could be so . . .” He pauses, searching for the right word. “Erotic?”

I glance down and see a definite bulge in his shorts. I tear myself away before I break my promise and my rules.

“You’ve got a lot to learn.” I chuckle and offer him a hand up. I don’t know how much sexual experience he’s had before, but it’s a little sad that he’s just discovering this now. I can’t wait to teach him.

“So where are we doing this?” I ask, holding a box full of Aunt Estrella’s diaries that we’ve collected from her.

“In the Hollywood room,” Rafe says blithely.

“The Hollywood room?” I have no idea what he’s talking about .

He opens the door to the room with all the photographs, which are now mostly back on the walls.

“You named it, right?”

He shrugs. “I thought it appropriate.”

It is. “I like it.” I eye the couch. It’s probably an antique, and I hope we didn’t leave any stains on it yesterday. It looks all right, though. I don’t think my aunt comes into this room anymore, but still, I don’t want to ruin her antiques.

I place the box down on a chair.

“Are you thinking of using this as a workroom?”

“I was, but we could do with a table so I can set my laptop up.”

“I’ve got an idea; be right back.” I go in search of my aunt and find her resting in her rooms. We have dinner planned for later, so she’s conserving her energy. She tells me where I can find a suitable table and I go back to the Hollywood room, meeting Constantin in the lobby.

“I brought lunch,” he says, holding up some paper bags.

“Perfect. Drop them in the kitchen and give me a hand.”

“With what?” he asks, following me through the kitchen to a storeroom beyond.

“We’re turning the Hollywood room into an office for Rafe.”

“The Hollywood room?” He frowns. “Is that the room with the photographs?”

“The very same.”

“Did Rafe call it that?”

I just give him a look and he laughs as he picks up his end of the table. “Was he ever really straight?”

“The jury’s still out on that one.” I hoist the table, and we carry it through to the room.

“Oh, that’s perfect,” Rafe exclaims when we enter. We set the table down and place a few chairs round it.

“Good. Now come and get the lunch I brought.”

“What are you looking for?” Constantin takes one of the diaries and throws himself onto the couch.

“Anything interesting,” Rafe says. Then follows it up with, “Okay, that wasn’t very helpful, was it?” Constantin snorts.

Rafe rips a couple of pieces of paper off his pad and hands one to each of us.

“First, write down which diary you have and the dates it covers. Then, as you read through it, note any significant events that occur and any important details. Also, jot down people she meets. Hopefully, we can build up a picture of her life and I can use these details to decide the structure of the biography. Then I can use what you’ve written as an index to find the information for the details.”

“That’s impressive,” I say. “It’s like you’ve done this before.”

“Well, not quite on this scale.” Rafe laughs.

I grab a diary and settle into one of the large, comfortable chairs. Rafe sits at the table with his laptop, a diary, and a notebook.

We work for a few hours, exchanging a few little quotes. The diaries we’re going through are of her early life, and I gain a few interesting facts about her life growing up in Argentina and my own grandparents.

I’m roused from my absorption in the diary by Rafe nudging my foot. I look at him and he tilts his head towards Constantin, who’s fallen asleep.

“Should we wake him?” he whispers.

“Is he grumpy when he wakes up, do you think?” He seems like he might be the type.

“There’s only one way to find out.” Rafe is already walking over to the couch and kneeling down beside Constantin. I join him.

“Constantin,” he says quietly, but there’s no movement.

“Constantin.” This time he gives a little sing-song voice.

“Mmmm, siesta,” he mumbles, barely coherently.

“Ah, I put him to work and didn’t let him have his siesta.” Rafe giggles quietly. “Does he need more rest, do you think?”

“Maybe, just never say it’s because he’s old,” I warn.

“Constantin, wake up,” he says again, but Constantin still doesn’t stir. I look around the room, my eyes stopping on a tall vase in the corner with several peacock feathers arranged in it.

I grab one, and standing behind the couch and out of reach, I hover it over his nose.

Rafe looks at me, his eyes alight.

“Do it,” he whispers and sits back a bit.

I gently tickle Constantin’s nose with the feather. His face scrunches, and he moves his face to avoid it. I tickle his nose again and he cracks an eye open. He sees Rafe first, then catches sight of the feather and me holding it beyond.

“Gilipollas,” he growls.

“What did he call us?” Rafe asks.

“He said we’re arseholes, and he’s definitely a grump when waking.”

He sits up and glares at us, his face still sleep-mussed. “I wasn’t asleep,” he protests.

“Oh. So you heard us discussing how handsome you looked then?” Rafe presses his lips together in silent laughter.

“Gillipollas,” he utters again, but there’s no bite to it, and he gives a chuckle. “Have I mentioned how beneficial a siesta is?”

“Several times.” Rafe rolls his eyes.

“Well, I don’t have time,” I say, looking at my watch. “Sofia will be arriving soon. ”

I’m excited to try some new recipes and learn how she prepares a dinner party for her clients. It’s fortunate that Estrella wanted a small dinner party today so I can learn here in a familiar setting. Estrella has invited Senor Bernat and his wife. She’s also insisted that Sofia stay to eat, and with Juana there will be eight of us. I give them both a quick kiss and a promise I’ll see them soon and head to the kitchen to start preparing the food.